The Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series is set for a bright future and an exciting 2013 season, it was confirmed at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. The championship will visit five Grand Prix-standard circuits next year, with five meetings in mainland Europe, most of them supporting the successful Blancpain Endurance Series for sports cars.

Highlights of the provisional calendar - announced by SRO Motorsports Group CEO Stephane Ratel during the championship’s annual visit to the Belgian Grand Prix circuit - include a return visit to the historic Pau Grand Prix in France, races on the Grand Prix circuits of Italy, Belgium, Great Britain and Germany alongside BES, and also a summer Blancpain event at Paul Ricard in the south of France.

Adderly Fong

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

British racegoers will have the chance to watch British Formula 3 - the longest established and most successful Grand Prix driver training formula in the world - not only at Silverstone but also at Rockingham and the three circuits operated by MotorSport Vision: Oulton Park, Snetterton and Brands Hatch, alongside the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

Many of the races will benefit from the introduction of live television coverage. Full details of the TV package will be announced at a later date.

Ratel revealed also that SRO, the promoter of the British Formula 3 International Series since 2004, has proposed to the FIA to bring British F3 and a new planned FIA F3 European Championship into one series.

British F3 championship manager Benjamin Franassovici said the new alliance with the Blancpain Endurance Series would be a major benefit for the series, its teams and competitors: “As evidenced by the 66 cars racing in the Total 24 Hours of Spa this weekend, the Blancpain Endurance Series is hugely popular and a great show. It will be great for British F3 to be a significant part of that success in 2013.

“The provisional calendar we have announced today is the best ever put together for British F3 and I am sure that it will be welcomed by the teams, sponsors and of course the young drivers looking to progress their careers towards a Grand Prix future.

“We are excited also by the prospect of live TV for the championship, which will add a great new dimension to the series.”

Provisional calendar 2013 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series